World

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised French President Emmanuel Macron over his call to halt arms deliveries to Israel for use in Gaza.

Macron told France Inter radio that “the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza”.

At a summit in Paris on Saturday, the French president reiterated his concern over the conflict in Gaza continuing despite ceasefire calls, and he also criticised Israel’s decision to send ground troops into Lebanon.

Netanyahu responded: “Shame on them,” referring to Macron and other Western leaders who have called for what he described as an arms embargo on Israel.

In a video released by his office, Netanyahu said “Israel will win with or without their support”, adding that calling for an arms embargo was “a disgrace”.

In an interview with the French broadcaster, which was recorded on Tuesday and aired on Saturday, Macron said “France is not delivering any” weapons to Israel.

He added: “I think we are not being heard.”

“I think it is a mistake, including for the security of Israel,” he said, adding that the conflict was leading to “hatred”.

Macron also said that avoiding an escalation in Lebanon was a “priority” and that “Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza”.

Netanyahu’s office responded by saying that any country that did not stand with Israel was supporting Iran and its allies and proxies.

Netanyahu said: “As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilised countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side.

“Yet, President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them.”

Macron’s office later said that France is a “steadfast friend of Israel”, adding that Netanyahu’s reaction was “excessive and detached from the friendship between France and Israel”.

Speaking at the at the 19th Francophonie Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris on Saturday, Macron said that while both the US and France had called for a ceasefire in Lebanon, he added: “I regret that Prime Minister Netanyahu has made another choice, has taken this responsibility, in particular, for ground operations on Lebanese soil.”

However, Macron reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defence and said that he would be meeting relatives of Franco-Israelis held hostage in Gaza on Monday.

Monday will mark the first anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage. More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry says.

Any ban on young people using social media needs to be implemented as soon as possible, the NSW premier says.

Ahead of a two-day summit between the NSW and South Australian governments on addressing social media issues, Chris Minns said age restrictions for the tech platforms were more than needed.

“I’d like to see (an age ban) done as soon as possible … ultimately, we have to draw a line in the sand,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“This is a big change for Australia, but I think it’s warranted, given this is, in my view a global, unregulated experiment on young people and the prevalent use of social media.”

It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote to state and territory leaders asking for input on how an age ban on social media could be implemented.

The federal government has indicated it will look to introduce legislation restricting social media use for young people, but an exact age limit has not been determined.

The prime minister asked premiers and chief ministers their preference for an age limit, and how parental consent could be factored in.

The leaders were also asked to consider whether young people with existing social media accounts would be exempt from any future ban.

Mr Minns said he would want to see a social media ban start at age 16, but there needed to be a uniform approach across states and territories.

“Wherever we end up is a world away from where we currently are, which is widespread use, which is obviously negative for a lot of people,” he said.

“The obligations would be on social media companies to make sure that they’ve got restrictions in place.”

Age verification trials are under way to help determine how a possible ban could be enforced.

The 2024 Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas died in a single-vehicle wreck on Friday night that injured five others, including her rodeo teammates, in rural Thomas County.

Emma C. Brungardt of Blue Rapids died at the scene of the wreck, which was reported at 9:44 p.m. on County Road 21. She was 19.

The driver, an 18-year-old Flagler, Colorado, man driving a 2007 Ford F-250 truck, and four other passengers were all taken to Citizens Medical Center in Colby after they all complained of pain.

The other passengers included a 20-year-old Larned woman, 19-year-old Newton woman, 19-year-old Galva woman and an 18-year-old Council Grove man.

Brungardt was on the Colby Community College Rodeo Team. The team said in a Facebook post that the wreck included “4 other team members and our work study.”

“Emma was a sweet soul who picked up other people and always had a positive attitude,” the post says. “Her light will live on in and around the rodeo arena.”

The wreck happened at a Y intersection on County Road 21 and a private drive. The driver, headed south, went “between the Y striking a tree row,” a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper wrote in crash report. The vehicle came to a rest upright, facing south in the tree row.

“Emma was a true gem and horsewoman who embodied what it meant to be a rodeo queen, always going above and beyond what was expected of her,” Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant said on Facebook. “We will miss her contagious smile and one in a million personality.”

The post included a photo of Brungardt wearing a cowboy hat with a buckle that says Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas.

“She was simply incredible,” one person commented on the post. “In all ways imaginable, especially in being a cowgirl.”

Another person wrote: “Emma was amazing!!! She was a fantastic representative of (Miss Rodeo Kansas) when I got to be with her at the Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City. Her poise, personality, and horsemanship were impeccable! She was so kind and gracious to young and old alike.”

Brungardt, a sophomore, competed in goat tying, breakaway and team roping with the CCC Rodeo Team. She started going there on scholarship after attending Valley Heights USD 498.

“As a first-generation cowgirl, Emma has immersed herself in the western way of life becoming involved in FFA in high school and coming in the Kansas Wild Horse Youth Challenge for 4 years, winning grand champion in 2019 and 2021,” according to her profile on Miss Rodeo Kansas. “She competed in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association for 2 years.”

BBC/Bad Wolf Productions/HBO/Nick Strasburg

BBC/Bad Wolf Productions/HBO/Nick Strasburg

‘That is thrilling’

BBC/Bad Wolf Productions/HBO/Nick Strasburg

The Duchess of Edinburgh spoke live with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as she visited a historic motoring and aviation museum.

Sophie was joined by Brownies, Guides and Rangers as she made radio contact with Sunita Williams at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey, on Saturday.

The event was part of a wider day of activities for the children aiming to promote the engagement and involvement of girls and young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).

It comes after the duchess was announced as the new Patron for Girlguiding, the country’s largest organisation dedicated solely to girls, earlier this week.

Sophie received a warm applause as she was welcomed by more than 100 Brownies, Guides, Rangers and other guests to the museum.

Appearing on stage in front of a specially fitted microphone, the royal then made an address to Ms Williams as the ISS flew within range, some 270 miles above the Earth.

Sophie said: “As now patron of the Girlguiding Association in the UK, I want to thank you for the inspiration you showed to our young girls to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Are you ready for your first question?”

She then asked the astronaut who or what inspired her to pursue her career, and for any advice she had for the Girlguides listening.

Addressing the girls, Ms Williams responded: “Do what you like – don’t be stuck in one thing or another.”

Ms Williams, an astronaut since 1998, went on her third trip to the International Space Station for an eight-day mission in June.

However, she remained stuck on the ISS after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft she travelled on experienced problems, with February next year now the earliest date she can return to Earth.

Ms Williams answered questions read out by 10 members of Girlguiding Surrey West, revealing that she wanted to be a veterinarian if she was not an astronaut, she wrote a journal in her free time on the ISS and her favourite planet was Saturn.

The wider audience of children then quizzed British reserve astronaut Meganne Christian, who appeared in person, on further details of life in space.

Sophie was then presented with three commemorative Girlguiding challenge badges and a rose gold Patron pin badge.

The duchess briefly stopped to chat with public visitors as she left the museum, saying to one: “It’s a lovely museum – such fun.”

Girlguiding chief executive Angela Salt OBE told the PA news agency after the event: “It’s been such an exciting day for the girls and for us grown-ups as well. It brings Stem subjects to life in such a real way.

“We have this phrase in Girlguiding that girls can do anything, and today they really proved it.”

Ms Salt said Girlguiding, which has around 385,000 members, faced lots of competition for girls’ time today but was “alive and kicking”.

She added: “Girls face so many challenges today – it’s really tough being young, there are all sorts of problems with safety, both online and in real life, so what we help girls do is have a voice and have a space to be themselves.”

Opened in 1906, Brooklands Museum occupies the site of the world’s first motor racing circuit and later went on to become a hub for manufacturing aircraft.

Alex Patterson, chief executive at Brooklands Museum, said the event would “create lifelong memories” for the Girlguiding members in attendance.

He added: “It is also our great privilege to have welcomed HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh to Brooklands Museum and we extend our gratitude for her involvement in this special event.

“Encouraging and inspiring girls and young women to pursue an interest and career in Stem is integral to our mission, particularly through the Brooklands Innovation Academy.”

Imogen Turnbow

Imogen Turnbow

‘Complete victim blaming’

‘So much stigma’

Bee Wilkes

‘Not being reported’

Bronny James could celebrate his 20th birthday by playing alongside his famous father for the first time when their Los Angeles Lakers host the Phoenix Suns in an NBA preseason match on Sunday.

Rookie Bronny scored two points and blocked three shots during the Lakers’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night as dad LeBron James watched from the bench.

Elon Musk joined Donald Trump onstage at a rally as the Republican candidate made his return to Butler, Pennsylvania — the city where a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump, prompting Musk to quickly publicly endorse the former president. Trump introduced Musk as “one of the people who is going to help us build this incredible future” before the Tesla CEO hopped onstage wearing a black “Make America Great Again” cap. “I’m not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA,” Musk told the crowd.

Musk provided a mid-speech interlude, with Trump taking a break to introduce the businessman at one point. Trump praised him as “a truly incredible guy,” adding “I don’t say that that often. He’s a great gentleman.”

“He saved free speech,” Trump claimed. “He created so many different great things.” He cited both Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX companies, along with the free speech reference pointing to Musk’s shifts since taking control of X and getting rid of much of the site’s content moderation.

“Well, first of all, I want to say what an honor it is to be here,” Musk began his comments to the rally’s audience. “And you know, the true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire. And we had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs, and another who was fist pumping after getting shot.” He then led the crowd in a chant of “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

“Now, America is the home of the brave, and there’s no truer test than courage under fire … who do you want representing America?” Musk asked as the crowd cheered for Trump. “Yeah, absolutely. And I think this, this, this election, I think the most important election of our lifetime, this is — this is no ordinary election.”

Democrats want to “take away your freedom of speech,” the self-proclaimed champion of free speech asserted. “They want to take away your right to bear arms … they want to take away your right to vote, effectively.”

While the Harris-Walz campaign advocates for gun control, there is no indication the Democratic Party wants to completely eliminate guns. They have also expressed no interest in eliminating free speech or Americans’ right to vote. It’s worth noting that freedom of speech does not mean there is freedom from consequences of said speech.

“We’ve got 14 states now that don’t require voter ID. California, where I used to live, has just passed a law banning voter ID for voting. I still can’t believe that’s real. So how are you supposed to have a good, proper election if there’s no ID?” Musk questioned. “It’s meaningless, and free speech is the bedrock of democracy. And if people don’t know what’s going on, if they don’t know the truth, how can you make an informed vote? You must have free speech in order to have democracy. That’s why it’s the First Amendment, and the Second Amendment is there to ensure that we have the First Amendment.”

Federal law requires newly registered voters in all states to provide a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number when they register to vote. There are 15 states in the United States who do not require registered voters to identify themselves when they show up to vote, but voters in those states were required to provide identification when they initially registered.

On Sept. 30, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that bans local governments from requiring ID to vote. The law is a response to a March 2024 ballot initiative approved by voters in Huntington Beach, where 53.4% of residents voted to require all residents who want to cast a ballot to show a valid ID.

That measure violated state law, which led California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber to sue in order to block local officials from enforcing the measure.

“The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy and Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy flies in the face of this principle,” Bonta said in a statement. “State election law already contains robust voter ID requirements with strong protections to prevent voter fraud, while ensuring that every eligible voter can cast their ballot without hardship. Imposing unnecessary obstacles to voter participation disproportionately burdens low-income voters, voters of color, young or elderly voters, and people with disabilities.”

You can watch Elon Musk’s speech at Donald Trump’s rally in the videos above, or watch the full Trump rally in the video below:

The post Elon Musk Joins Trump Rally, Claims Harris Winning Would Make This ‘the Last Election’: ‘I’m Dark MAGA’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.